Bag handling and stacking apparatus



Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY 3,

BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. PAUL A. TRAY 3 ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY BAG HANDLINGAND STACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 INVENTOR.FALJL. A.TRAY Q K ATTORNEYS D66. 26, 1961 P T AY BAG HANDLING ANDSTACKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 INVENTOR. PAULA. TRAY 1w Q Dec. 26, 1961 P. A. TRAY BAG HANDLING AND STACKINGAPPARATUS 4 SheecsSheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, 1959 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. PAUL. A. TRAY BY ATTORNEYS United up States Patent r 3,014,600BAG HANDLING AND STACKING APPARATUS Paul A. Tray, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Central Bag &

Burlap Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 28,1959, Ser. No. 789,531

' 21 Claims. (Cl. 2146) This invention relates to an apparatus forhandling and stacking bags, as in the bag manufacturing industry. Themain object is to provide efficient and economical apparatus forreceiving sewed cloth bags in succession from a bag-sewing machine,delivering them to a stacking location, and depositing them there in anorderly stack of similarly oriented bags.

This application is a continuation-in-part of each of my priorapplications, Serial No.,630,949, filed December 27, 1956, and SerialNo. 656,7l7,filed May 2, 1957, now abandoned. r 1 i Previously, sewedcloth or cloth-like bags made from burlap, hemp, jute or like fabric, ondischarge from the sewing machine, have tended to fall and crumple intoa random sprawling mass unsuited for baling or packaging for storage orshipment, unless taken from the machine by hand and carefully smoothedout and stacked.

According to the invention, a combined conveying-and stacking apparatusreceives the bags as they come from the sewing'machine, brings each intolateral alignmentwith a piling location, conveys'each toward the piling"location while skewing it, in the desired direction and amount, into apredetermined orientation, and then delivers each bag to the stackinglocation rather preciselyoverlying any bags already in the stack;.Apparatus according to the invention preferably includes across-conveyorin communication with'a longitudinal conveyor leading toward thestacking location, and a stacker.

Further, according to the invention, a first sensingresponsive means isemployed for stopping the crossconveyor when a bag reaches a desiredposition thereon;

a second such means is used on the longitudinal conveyor for retarding aleft or right portion of, the rear edge of a bag to cause the bag toskew into the desired alignment, and athird such means actuates thestacker on arrival of thebag at a predetermined location, causing thestacker to remove the bag from the conveyor and place it flat upon thestack. T

The'above-mentioned and other objects and features of this, inventionand the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and theinvention itself will be best understood, by reference to the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunctionlwiththe accompanying drawings, comprising FIGS. 1 to 7, wherein:

FIGS.1 and 2 are smalhscale drawings comprising respectively a top viewand aside view of apparatus employedin sewing bags in succession and forhandling and stacking them in succession;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a top view and a side view of thestructure 2m 5 of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along line 55 0 1 4;. v l

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section taken along line 6--6 ofFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

General description Referring first to FIGS; 1 and 2, a stack of unsewnbags 13 is' illustrated on table 12 within reach of an operator seatedat 8 for sewing the bags at sewing machine 3,014,000 Patented Dec. 26,19 61 7, mounted on table leaf 6. Arstack of sewed bags is shown at 16,on stack table 17.

The blank, or unsewed, bags in stack 13 may each comprise two layers ofbag fabric folded along line d and to be sewed along side b and end 0(along the broken line) leaving end a open. One bag blank 18A isillustrated in chained outline in a position wherein the sewing thereofat machine 7 has just started to produce a stitch along its side b. Thatbag, when sewed, may be considered as becoming bag 14, travelinggenerally lengthwise on conveyor 3 toward a position of general lateralalignment with stack 16, for transfer to conveyor 2.

As the sewing progresses on the illustrated bag blank 13A, a stitchthrough the two thicknesses of fabric, as shown at 15 for the completedbag 14, is run along side b of 13A, whereupon the partly sewed bagis-turned-90 degrees by the operator to about the attitude shown forcompleted bag 14, following which the stitch is continued to completionacross end 0 of the bag.

End 0 of the sewed bag is then advanced forwardly by the operator whilethe sewing machine 7 is still stitching, leaving a trailing stitch (notshown) attached to corner c, d of the bag. Such trailing stitch may beconveniently severed at 9, which may comprise a simple fixed sharp bladeover which the trailing stitch is drawn by the operator, or it maycomprise any desired automatic stitch-cutting apparatus actuated bymember 9 as a trigger to cause the cutting action to occur when theoperator releases the trailing end c of the sewed bag, at which time thebag is lying on and being pulled generally lengthwise by crossconveyor 3as shown at 14.

When the sewed and severed bag 14 is advanced, generally lengthwise,along conveyor 3, it reaches the noted position of lateral alignmentwith the stack location at 16. In that position, its leading edge issensed by elevated sensing device 51, causing cross-conveyor 3 to bestopped.

I and partly on conveyor 2, (2) aligned or orienta'ted'posh tion 14Bfurther down conveyor 2, and (3) stacked position 14C on stack 16;.

Structure is provided as hereinafter described to sense the arrival ofthe front edge of a bag shortly beyond position 14A to 'retardwhicheverportion (right or left) of the bag is most advanced, by grasping thatportion temporarily at the trailing edge until the bag skews intoalignment by conveyor travel, whereupon the bag is released and isallowed to travel along the conveyor to a liftoff position at about 148,whereupon a sensing de vice detects the presence of the bag and causes astacker fork to rise from below the surface of conveyor 2 to pick up thebag and rotate it bodily upwardly, rearwardly, and downwardly to depositit upside down on stack 16, in position 14Cfor assumed bag 14.

Detailed description ,is carried on shaft "43'. It-may be driven bymotor 45,

shown in dotted outline in FIG. 4, by a chain or 'belt 48 whichinterconnects pulleys on motor shaft 46 and on shaft 4-3. Cross-conveyorbelt 3 is preferably arranged with crosswise corrugations at its surfaceas is indicated in plan view in FIGS. 1 and 3, and in profile view inFIG. 5, wherebyit' secures a better grip on the bags than would besmooth conveyor belt of the same material.

Conveniently, the noted starting and stopping of the cross-conveyor 3may be accomplished by starting and stopping its drive motor 45responsive to the front edge a'of a bag 14' (FIG; 1) breaking beam 52(FIG. 4) between elevated sensing element 51 and a light source 50.Normally beam 52 passes freely through cutout 31 in table 4, FIGS. 1 and3. The circuit arrangement (not shown) for controlling the starting andstopping of conveyor 3 as described, is preferably so arranged that theconveyor remains stopped so long as the noted light beam 52- (FIG; 4)remains interrupted, and restarts when a bag 14 has been moved downslide 5- as described, permitting the beam to become reestablished.

The slide 5, employed as a convenient device for bridging between thecross-conveyor 3 and longitudinal conveyor 2, may be constructed ofsheet metal or other smooth material having a curvature as indicated inprofile in'FIGS. 2, 4, and 6.

Conveyor 2 may be driven by motor 82 of FIG. 4 (motors 82 and 45 beingback geared as or if desired) through sprocket chain 79 which turnsshaft 91 extending across the conveyor bed. Conveyor 2 includes a numberof parallel belts 90 carried on spaced pulleys 95 (FIG. 6) and passingover pulleys 96 (FIG. 3) spaced along idler cross shaft 92.

Times 143 of a stacker fork lie between the belts 90 of conveyor 2, at alevel slightly'be-low the top surface of the conveyor belts, to avoidinterference with the movement of bags-along the conveyor until thestacker fork is actuated. The fork tines 143* are carried on collars 152on cross shaft 141, provided with bearings 142, and controlled by rackand pinion 145, 146, controlled in turn by pneumatic cylinder 149 andrestoring spring 153. Each of the fork tines 143 of the stacker ispreferably overlaid with a strip of rough-surfaced material 144, such asemery cloth or sandpaper, bonded thereto. This arrangement permits thetines of the stacker to get a better grip on a bag being stacked, toavoid slippage of the bag thereon.

Sprocketwheel 77 on shaft 91 acts through sprocket chain 76 to drivesprocket wheel 75 fixed with shaft 74. Shaft 74 is provided withsuitable bearings in the frame structure and carries drive roller 61(FIGS. 5 and 6), which lies generally below the surface of the startingportion of slide 5, being exposed through the illustrated cutout in theslide.

A bag in the general position shown at14 (FIG. 1) may overhang on bothsides of the relatively narrow cross table 4 and cross-conveyor 3-, withthe front side overhanging drive roller 61, the outer end of which (theleftend as seen, in FIG. 5) may be rounded as shown to facilitatelongitudinal passage thereon of a bag moving with the cross-conveyor.Roller 61 is sufiiciently smooth that it has little tendency to movea-bag 14 onto slide 5 until idler roller 62 is caused to act.

The described interruption of beam 52 (FIG. 4) between source 5'0 andsensingdevice 51. (besides causing cross-conveyor 3 to be stopped when abag 14 of FIG. 1 is generally cross aligned with stack 16 of FIG. 1)causes roller 62 tobe brought downwardly onto drive roller 61, as by apneumatic cylinder'enclosed at 71 which ejects its plunger. 70 to carryattached member 69 upwardly. Member 69 is pivoted at 6-7 to-the outerend of lever 64, pivoted at 66 to member. 68 fixed with the framestructure. Roller' 62 is carried in a bracket 63, pivoted at 65 to' theinner end of lever 64.

When idler roller 62 is thus brought down into contact with roller 61,the overhanging portion of the bag (such as 14, FIG. 1) is grippedbetween the two rollers and thereby pulled and driven to move. laterallyand downwardly over slide 5 and onto longitudinal. conveyor .2.- Whenhis mo ement of the g p rmits be m 2 to become reestablished, motor 45is restarted to restart "conveyor 3, and the pneumatic cylinder" at 71is deenergized, restoring roller 62 to its normal non-clutchingposition. By this time the bag 14 is actively upon slide 5 for movementdown the slide toward a position such as is illustrated at 14A (FIG.1).

Sensing elements are provided at two locations along conveyor 2. At thefirst location, three sensing elements are supported on the adjustableassembly comprising underlying cross member 116 and uprights 117 and 118supported thereon; These sensing elements sense the arrival of the frontedge of an advancing bag and cooperate with pneumatically controlledretarding structure mounted on bridge 101 to correct the skewedmisalignment or disorientation of a bag as indicated at 14A of FIG. 1,to skew the bag into the desired predetermined alignment or orientationas indicated at 1413 of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3.

The sensing structure at the noted second location along conveyor2comprises the trigger 140 of a switch sensitive to the slight weight ofthe advancing edge of an oriented bag to cause actuation of the stacker.

Theinner top Web of I-bearns 22 and 23 (supported on legs 24, 28) isslotted at and 126 to permit the structure 116 to 118 to be adjustablylocated along conveyor 2 and tightened in adjusted position by nuts 127,128 of bolts extending upwardly through slots 125 and 1-26. Thedistance-between the skew-sensing structure and the retarding structuremounted on bridge 101 may be thereby adjusted according to the widthdimension of a bag 14, the length of end lines a and c. The sensingelements carried on members 116 to 118 are shown adjusted toward therear end of slots 125, 126for a relatively narrow bag, the adjustmentbeing toward the forward end of these slots for a relatively wider bag.The adjustment in each case is preferably such that when a forwardportion of an advancing bag comes over the center line of cross member116, the aligned trailing edge portion of-the'bag is substantially underretard bridge 101.

The sensing elements carried on adjustable cross member 1-16 compriseleft and right light sources 121 and 122 which direct left-and rightsensing-beams 129 and 130 upwardly and outwardly to light-sensingmembers 123 and 1-24carried on uprights 117 and 118, located laterallyout of the path of fork tines 143.

Sensing device 131, located about the middle of cross member-116, may bea light trigger switch of the type discussed at140, actuated by theslight weight of the advancing edge of a bag. Thus, the beams 129 and130 and sensing device 131' may be used incombination as will bedescribed. In FIGS. 3 and 5,106 may indicatea pneumatictube junction,and items 104 and 105' may indicate junctions including control valvecontrolled bybeams129, 130 for pneumaticallycontrolling cylinders 102and 103.

When a bag 14 being carried on conveyor 2'- is so skewed asto-inteirupteither beam 129, 130-before the other and before switch 131 is actuated,the corresponding pneumatic cylinder (102, 103) carried'on elevatedbridge 101 (FIGS. 3 to 5) is responsively actuated through controlstructure (not shown) to effect corrective skewing. If, for example,the'bag is skewed as shown at 14A (FIGS. 1 and 2), left cylinder 102is'actuated by the breaking of leftbeam 129. 102 responsively ejects itsplunger 10 7, causing pad 109 to grip the trailing edge of the left endof the bag between pad 109' and underlying pan, 89. The gripped rearleft portion of the bag is thus stopped, allowing the retarded right endof the bag to continue to, be moved forwardly by the conveyor. The bagis thereby correctively skewed in the proper direction to overcome theoriginal skew of the bag to reach the desired alignment indicated at 14Bof FIGS. 1 and 3.

When the foregoing corrective action occurs, the other beam (130) isbroken. The arrangement is preferably such that'when both beams 129 and130 are interrupted the energized one of the cylinders 101 and 102 isdeenergized, and thereupon restores (as by spring action, not

shown) to free the advancing bag for aligned travel along the lconveyor.

1 If the bag arrives at the skew-sensing station skewed in the oppositedirection, the results are as described except that beam 130 is firstbroken and cylinder 103 is energized to eject its plunger 108 and holdthe rear of the bag between its pad 110 and pan 89. v

. When, as may sometimes happen, a bag 14 arrives at the skew-sensingstation with no skew, both beams 129 and 130 are interrupted at aboutthe same instant, in which case the noted control arrangement ispreferably such that no action of cylinders 102, 103' occurs.Alternatively, if desired for simplification of the control arrangement,the weight sensitive switching element 131 may be employed as anindication that the intermediate portion of the advancing edge of thebag being conveyed has arrived at the skew-sensing location, to therebynullify the breaking of either or both of thebeams 129, 130.

When the skew, if any, of the advancing bag has been detected andcorrected as described, the then aligned bag is permitted to traveluninterruptedly along the conveyor until the advancing edge of the bagencounters trigger switch 140, which extends slightly above the level ofthe conveyor belts. Actuation of this switch by the slight weight of theadvancing edge of the bag operates (through suitable control apparatusnot shown) to energize pneumaticstacking cylinder 150, which ejects itspiston 152 through slide bearing 151 against the restoring force ofspring 153. As seen best in FIG. 4, member 149 connects plunger 152 withlink rod 148, connected in turn to rack 146. Accordingly, rack 146partakes of the outward movement of piston 152. Pinion 145 is therebyrotated, rotating fork shaft 141 through an angle of about 180 degrees,or more, as required. This action may occur quite quickly, as thestacker fork components may be comparatively light. The speed of forkrotation is preferably such that the air-vane effect of the bag beinglifted, turned, and moved downwardly is sufficient to hold the bag inposition during the turning operation. The noted roughened surfaceprovided by strips 144 on the surfaces of tines 143 causes the bag tosubstantially retain its aligned unrumpled position on the stacker forkduring the rotating stacking action. l

' When the rotating movement of the stacker fork is terminated; the bagis 'forced onto,.or is dropped gently onto the stack 16, o'n-table 17,depending on the current height of the stack. Its position may then beas shown at 14C of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The noted control apparatus is caused to maintainc'ylinderllill-energized for a sufficient time to cause-the described.movement of the stacker fork to occur,whereupon the cylinderwis.deenergizedto permit the restoration of theplunge'rand. the stackerforkto normal position, by return spring 153, before the arrival of the nextbag on conveyor 2.

- Operations as described .occur' for each of the bags sewed anddelivered to the handling and stacking apparatus through cross-conveyor3, each such bag being caused to be deposited as described at location16 of FIGS. land 2.

The disclosed sewing, handling, and stacking operations may becontinuous for any desired period. .That is, at such intervalsas'desired, any part v(or all) of the accumulatingstack 16 (FIGS. 1' and2)-may be removed for storage or shipment, packed as -desired, and thestack 13 of unsev'ved or blank bags may be replenished as needed.

,It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the usual, techniquesused 'for handling and stackingstilf sheet articles, as of metal,cardboard, wood, or the'like, are not necessarily applicable in handlingand stacking the relatively limp fabric bags nor other items of thegeneralcharacter, including sewed pillow cases, single fabric sheets,and similar limp and flaccid articles.

While I have described above the principles of my invention inconnection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood thatthis description is made only by way of example and not as a limitationto the scope of my invention. i

I claim: I r

1. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, theapparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying thearticles one at a time in a generally uncrump-led condition and alongitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyortoward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any saidarticle along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival of thearticle at a predetermined location with respect to the median line ofthe longitudinal conveyor, means 'for concurrently transferring. thearticle from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor alongsaid median line While maintaining the article generally unrumpled,whereby any said article occupies a predetermined sideto-side locationon the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinalconveyor'for correctively skewing into a predetermined position oforientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining thearticle generally in its said side-to-side location and generallyunrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinalconveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinalconveyor and for depositing them in succession in generallyunrumpled'condition one above the other in a stack wherein all aresimilarly orientated, said means for stopping the movement along thecross-conveyorcomprising means for stopping the cross-conveyor until thearticle thereon has been transferred therefrom.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said means for stoppingthe conveyor includes means for sensing the arrival of the leading edgeof the article at a predetermined location.

3. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the said means 'for effectingthe said inter conveyor transfer is also controlled by said sensingmeans.

4. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, theapparatus comprising a crossoonveyor for receiving and conveying thearticles one at a time ina generally uncrumpled condition and alongitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyortoward a stacking location, means for stopping the 1move'rnent of anysaid article along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival ofthewarticle at a predetermined location with respectto the median lineof the longitudinal conveyIor, means for concurrently transferring thearticle from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor alongsaid median line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled,whereby any said article occupies a predetermined. side-to-side locationon the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinalconveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined positionv oforientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining thearticle generally in its said side-to-s'ide location and generallyunrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinalconveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinalconveyor and for depositing them in succession in generallyunrumpledcondition one above the other in a stack wherein all aresimilarly orientated, wherein the said cross-conveyor is elevatedrelative to the said longitudinal conveyor and is connected to' the saidlongitudinal conveyor by a slide, the said transfer means includingmeans for pulling any said stopped article from the cross-conveyor ontothe slide.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the said cross-conveyor isnarrower than the said articles, and the i said pulling means comprisesa pair of clutch rollers and means for bringing one toward the other tograsp an overhanging portion of a said stopped article, and

means for driving at least one roller to accomplish the said pulling.

6. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, theapparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and. conveying thearticles one at a time in a generally uncrumpled condition and alongitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the crossconveyortoward a stacking location, means for stepping the. movement of any saidarticle along the crossconveyor responsive to they arrival of thearticle at a predetermined location with respect to the median lineofthe longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring the.article 'from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor alongsaid median line whilemaintaining the article generally unrumpled,whereby any said article occupies a predetermined side-to-side locationon the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinalconveyor for correctively skew ing into a predeternined position oforientation any said article being carried thereon while maintaining thearticle generally in its said side-to-sidc location and generallyunrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinalconveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinalconveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpledcondition one above'the other in a stack wherein all are similarlyorientated, the said means for correctively skewing including aright-hand and a left-hand holder located near the rear, or input, ofthe longitudinal conveyor, respectively corresponding sensing elementslocated forwardly of the holders, each for sensing the arrival thereatof the leadingedge of a said article, and means responsive to eithersensing element sensing the arrival of a said leading edge of an articlethereat before such arrival at the other sensing element for actuatingthe corresponding holder until such arrival occurs at the other sensingelement, actuation of either holder serving to. grip and hold theassociated portion of the article near the trailing edge.

7. In an apparatus accordingto claim 6, means for adjusting the distancealong the longitudinal conveyor between the said holders and the saidsensing elements to accord with the corresponding dimension of a seriesof articles to be handled, whereby the portion of an article gripped andheld for corrective skewing may be near the trailing edge irrespectiveof substantial dimension variations between the articles of one seriesand another.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the said adjustment meanscomprises means for adjusting the location along the longitudinalconveyor of the said sensing means.

9. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, theapparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying thearticles one at a time in a generally uncrumpled condition andv alongitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the crossconveyortoward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any saidarticle along the cross-conveyor responsive to the arrival of thearticle at a predetermined location with respect to the medianline ofthe longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring thearticle from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor alongsaid median line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled,whereby any said article occupies a predetermined side-to-side locationon the longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinalconveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined position oforientation any said article being carried thereon'while maintaining thearticle generally in its said side-to-side location and generallyunrumpled, stacking means operative further along the longitudinalconveyor for lifting the articles successively from the longitudinalconveyor and for deposit- 8 ing them in succession in generallyunrumpled condition one above the other in a stack wherein all aresimilarly orientated, sensing means responsive to a said articlereaching a predetermined location along the saidlongitudinal conveyor,and meanscontrolled by the sensing means for operating the said stackingmeans.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the said sensing meanssenses the arrival thereat, of the leading edge of a said article, andthe said predetermined location is the location thereof when the arrivalof its leading edge is sensed by the said sensing means.

11. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric :bags, theapparatus comprising a crossconveyor for receiving and conveying thearticles one at'a time in a generally uncrumpled condition and alongitudinal conveyor extending from one side of the cross-conveyortoward a stacking location, means for stopping the movement of any saidarticle along the cross-conveyor responsive to. the arrival of thearticle at a predetermined location with respect to the median line ofthe longitudinal conveyor, means for concurrently transferring thearticle from the cross-conveyor onto the longitudinal conveyor alongsaid median'line while maintaining the article generally unrumpled,whereby any said: article occupies a predetermined sideto-side locationon the'longitudinal conveyor, means operative along the longitudinalconveyor for correctively skewing into a predetermined position oforientation any said article being carried: thereon while maintainingthe article generally in its said side-to-side location and generallyunrumpled, and stacking means operative further along the longitudinalconveyor for lifting the articles sujccessively from the longitudinalconveyor and for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpledlcondition one above the other in a stack wherein all are similarlyorientated, the said articles being each generally oblong, the saidcross-conveyor having a width dimension less than the width dimension ofa said article for conveying the articles generally lengthwise with somemarginal overhang, and the said longitudinal conveyor having a widthdimension sufiici'ent to accommodate thearticles when carried widthwisethereon.

12. Apparatus for handling and stacking a succession of relatively limparticles of the class including emptyv fabric bags, comprising meansproviding a stacking location, a conveyor leading toward the stackinglocation, means for depositing the articles flat on the conveyor one ata time, at least some of the articles so deposited being skewedin agiven direction from a desired position of orientation on the conveyor,a clutch device and means for operating it, in timed relationship withthe movementalong the conveyor ofany said skewed article, to clutch andhold the article against convey'or movement at a location near thetrailing edge thereof and to one side ofv its median line along theconveyor until the conveyor movemerit of. the unheld portion of thearticle correctively skews the article into the desired position oforientation, means responsive to the article becoming correctivelyskewed for terminating the said operation of the clutch, andv stackingmeans associated with the conveyor for taking each article from theconveyor and placing it fiat on a stack at the said stacking location ina position of orientation thereon depending on the position oforientation of the article on the conveyor.

13. Corrective skewing apparatus for adjusting the orientation to adesired direction of flat limp articles of the class including clothbags while the articles are being uously moving carrier below saidconveyor and includ-,

ing a plurality of spaced endless belts; an inclined plane disposed toprovide a path for bags to move between said conveyor and said carrier;adjusting mechanism for properly orienting each bag on said carrier,said mechanism including a pair of movable stops, one adjacent eachsideof the path of carrier travel and normally positioned thereabove; pairedsensing means operatively associated with said stops wherebyone sensingmeans determines the bag foremost portion on said carrier and actuatesthat stop adjacent said foremost portionto arrest the travel thereof,said other sensing means determining when said bag is properly orientedon said carrier to dcactuate the actuated stop; third sensing means at apredetermined location along the flight of said carrier for determiningthe presence of successive bags thereat; and transfer mechanism,controlled by said third sensing means, including a plurality of slatsnormally positioned out of the path of carrier flight and interleavedbetween said belts, and effective to transfer successive bags to anorderly pile as the bags reach said predetermined location.

15. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a first endlessconveyor for receiving successive individual bags delivered thereto fromsewing equipment; a second conveyor, below said first conveyor, runningsubstantially perpendicular thereto, and including a plurality of spacedendless belts; a slide disposed to receive successive bags from saidfirst conveyor and deliver them to said second conveyor, said slide'extending downwardly from the flight of'said first conveyor along a pathofgradually decreasing inclination and to the flight of said secondconveyor; means disposed adjacent said first conveyor flight forfeeding'successive bags-down said slide; sensing means at apredeterrnined location adjacent the flight of-said first conveyor fordetermining the presence of successive bags thereat; means connectedwith saidsensing means and efiective toactuate. said feed meansasisuccessive bags reach said predeterminedlocation; second'sensingmeans along the flight of said second conveyor for determining thatportion of a bag passing thereby which is foremost; actuatable meanscontrolled by the latter-sensing means to arrest the bag foremostportion until, the entire bag is carried by said second conveyor intoaccurate alignment; third sensing means along the flight of said secondconveyor for determining accurate bag alignment, connected with saidarresting means, andjadaptedjto deactuate' the same upon the bagachieving accurate alignmerit, a plurality of slats interleaved betweensaid belts and commonly joined to a rotatable shaft; fourth sensingmeans at a predetermined location along the flight of said secondconveyor for sensing the presence of successive accurately aligned bagsthereat; means connected with said fourth sensing means and effective torotate said shaft as successive bags reach the latter predeterminedlocation, whereby successive bags are lifted by said slats from saidsecond conveyor and piled in an orderly stack.

16. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a carrier includinga plurality of spaced parallel running endless belts arranged forreceiving a succession of bags delivered thereto; a pair of positionablestops, one adjacent each side of the path of carrier travel and normallypositioned thereabove; means for positioning said stops; paired meanssensitive to the presence of bags on said carrier, operatively connectedwith said stop positioning means, and adapted to control the operationthereof,

whereby one of said paired sensing means determines the foremost portionof each bag on said carrier and actuates that stop adjacent saidforemost portion to arrest the travel thereof, and the other of saidpaired sensing means determines when each bag .iscorrectly oriented onsaid carrier to deactuate the actuated stop; third sensing meansarranged to determine the presence of successive bags at a predeterminedlocation further along the path of carrier travel; a plurality of slatsinterleaved between said belts, normally positioned below the surfacesthereof and positioned to underlie each of the successive bags as thesame successively reach said predetermined location; a rotatable shaftcarrying said slats; a pinion on said shaft; a rack drivablyengagingsaid pinion; a pneumatic motor having a reciprocable piston connectedwith said rack; and means connecting said third sensing means with saidpneumatic motor whereby the pneumatic motor drives said rack and pinionto rotate said shaft and the slats thereon to remove successive bags asthe same reach said predetermined location.

. 17. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: a conveyorincluding a plurality of spaced parallel runningendless belts forreceiving a succession of bags delivered thereto; a pair of positionablestops, one adjacent each side of the path of conveyor travel andnormally positioned thereabove; pneumatic means for selectivelypositioning said stops; paired photo-electric cell assemblies, eachoperatively connected with said pneumatic means, controlling theoperations thereof, and having a respective beam which intersects thetravelof a bag on said conveyor at a point remote from saidstops wherebythe beam from one of said assemblies is interruptable to determine theforemost portion of a bag on said conveyor to actuate that stop adjacentto the bag side of which said foremost portion is a part, therebyarresting the travelthereof, and the beam from the other said assembliesis interruptable to determine when the bag is correctly oriented on saidconveyor, thereby deactuating the actuated stop and freeing the entirebag for travel with, said conveyor; sensing means at a predeterminedlocation further along the flight of said conveyor for deter-mining.

means connecting said airmotor with said sensing means, whereby as saidsensing means determines the presence of said bags, said air motor isactuated to rotate said shaft and the slats carried thereby to lift saidbag fromsaid conveyor;

, 18. Handling andstacking apparatus'for bags of substantially uniformsize, comprising: a first endless conveyor for receiving bags deliveredthereto from sewing equipment; a second conveyor, below said firstconveyor and including a plurality of spaced parallel running endlessbelts; an inclined slide disposed to receive bags from said firstconveyor and deliver them to said second con-i veyor, said slideextending downwardly from the flight of said first conveyor along a pathof gradually decreasing inclination, and ending substantially in theplane of the start of flight of said second conveyor; feed means forurging bags from said first conveyor and onto said slide; photo-electricassembly means for determining the presence of successive bags at apredetermined location along the flight of said first conveyor;pneumatic means connected with said latter means and effective toactuate said feed means as successive bags reach said predeterminedlocation; a pair of movable stops, one adjacent each side of said secondconveyor and normally positioned thereabove; paired pneumatic cylinders,each for selectively positioning a respective one of said stops; pairedother photo-electric assemblies, each operatively 1 1 connected withsaid pneumatic cylinders, controlling the operation thereof, and havinga light source transmitting a beam' interruptable by the fiightof bagson said second conveyor-at a point spaced from said stops by a distanceslightly less than the measurement of a bag along said second conveyor,whereby (a) one ofsaid beams is interruptable first to determine theforemost portion of eachbag on said second conveyor to actuate that stopadjacent to the bag side of which said foremost portion is a part,thereby arresting the travel thereof, and (b) the other of'said beams isinterruptable by the bag remaining'portion upon the same becomingproperly. aligned on said second conveyor to deactuate said actuatedstop; bag transfer means including a plurality of slats interleavedbetween said belts and normally positioned below the surfaces thereof; arotatable shaft carrying said slats;

piston connected with said rack; sensing means for deter-' mining thepresence of successive bags over said slats; and means connecting saidsensing means with said pneumatic motor, whereby upon the presence ofsuccessive bags being determined by said sensing means, said motor isactuated to drive said shaft and said'slats through said rack and pinionto lift said bags from said second conveyor and-deposit them inanorderly stack.

19'. Bag handling and stacking apparatus, comprising: aconveyor (forreceiving a succession of bags delivered theretofromsewing-equipment; amovable carrier below said conveyorand including a plurality of spacedparal lel running belts; a slide for delivering bags from said conveyor;to the start of carrier flight; adjusting mechanism for properlyorienting said bags on said carrier, said mechanism including a pairofmovable stops, one adjacent each: side of the path of carrier traveland normally positioned thereabove; paired pneumatic means, oneoperatively connected with each of said stops for controlling thepositioning thereof; paired sensing means, one at each half: of the pathof carrier travel and associatedwith said pneumatiemeans whereby one ofsaid sensing means detenmines the foremost portion of a bag on saidcarrier anduactuates one of said pneumatic means to lower that stopadjacent said foremost portion to arrest the travel thereof, and theother of said sensing means determines whensaidbag is properlyorientedon said carrier to deactuate-said' aetuated stopg third sensingmeans at a-predetermined location further. alongthe flight of said car.-ricrfor determining the presence of said bag thereat; and transfer meanseffective to transfer said bag from said carrier. to'an orderly pile,and including aplurality ofslats interleaved between said. belts,normally positioned therebelow and located-to underlie said bag as thesame reaches said predetermined location, a rotatable shaft carryingsaid slats, a pinion carried by said shaft, a rack drivably. engagingsaid p-inion, a pneumatic motor having a-reciprocable pistonconnectedwith said rack, and-means connectingsaid third sensing means with saidpneumatic motor'whereby the latter is-effective to rotate said shaft andsaid slats to move said bag to said pile-upon said bagreaching saidpredetermined location.

1-2 20. Apparatus for conveying a succession of similar relatively'limparticles of the class including empty fabric bags from a receivinglocation to a stacking location and for stacking them thereat,comprising a generally horizontal'conveyor for receiving and conveyingthe articles overlappingthe forward portion of'tlie conveyor andreceivedwithin and lying below the surface thereof to permit atsaidarticle to be conveyed to a position above the tines of the stackerfork, means mounting the stacker fork for an upward, forward, anddownward, turning movement about an axis generally within and normal tothe plane of the conveyor to a position overlying the said stackinglocation, and means disposed on the articlecarryingside of'the saidtines for providing said article side with a roughened surface of thegeneral character of that of emery cloth or sandpaper to minimizeslippage of a said article being stacked.

21. Apparatus for handling and stacking'a succession of similarrelatively limp articles of the class including empty fabric bags, theapparatus comprising a conveyor for receiving and conveying the articlesone at a time in a generally fiat unrumpled condition from a receivinglocation toward a stacking location, means operative along the' conveyorfor correctively skewing into a predetermined position oforientationgany said article being carried thereon while maintaining thearticle'generally flat and unrumpled, stacking means operative furtheralong the conveyorfor lifting the articles successively from theconveyor and' for depositing them in succession in generally unrumpledcondition one above the other in a stack subject to their being in'saidpredetermined position of orientation-when lifted, the said means forcorrectively skewing including a right-hand and a left-hand holder.located near the rear, or input; of the longitudinal conveyor,respectively corresponding sensing elements located forwardly of theholders, each for sensing the arrival thereat ofthe leadingedge of'asaid article, and means responsive' to either sensing element sensing.the arrival of a said leading edge of an article thereat before sucharrival of the other sensing element for actuating the correspondingholderuntil such arrival occurs at the other sensing element, actuationof either holder serving to grip and hold the associated portion of thearticle near the trailing edge.

Great Britain Apr. 15, 1953

